Arctotis plant named &#39;bonarc 0729&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Arctotis  plant named ‘Bonarc 0729’, characterized by its compact and spreading plant habit; freely branching growth habit; relatively small leaves; single-type inflorescences with red-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Arctotis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BONARC 0729’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Arctotis plant, botanically known as Arctotis hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bonarc 0729’.

The new Arctotis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and spreading Arctotis plants that are freely branching, flower early and have attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Arctotis plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in July, 2006 in Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia of a proprietary selection of Arctotis hybrida identified as code number 03-41, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Arctotis hybrida identified as code number 00-49, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Arctotis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia on Oct. 11, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Arctotis plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia since October, 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Arctotis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Arctotis plant have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Bonarc 0729’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bonarc 0729’ as a new and distinct Arctotis plant:

-   -   1. Compact and spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Relatively small leaves.     -   4. Single-type inflorescences with red-colored ray florets.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Arctotis differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Arctotis are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Arctotis flower later than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Arctotis and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Arctotis differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Arctotis are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Arctotis flower earlier than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Arctotis and the male parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent         selection have pale pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Arctotis can be compared to plants of Arctotis hybrida ‘Archnah’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,732. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Arctotis differ primarily from plants of ‘Archnah’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Arctotis are more compact and spreading         than plants of ‘Archnah’.     -   2. Plants of the new Arctotis have smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Archnah’.     -   3. Plants of the new Arctotis and ‘Archnah’ differ in ray floret         color as ray florets of ‘Archnah’ have orange-colored ray         florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Arctotis plant. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Arctotis plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bonarc 0729’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Bonarc 0729’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 20-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Arctotis production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 25° C. Plants were three months old when the photographs were taken and four months old when the detailed description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Arctotis hybrida ‘Bonarc 0729’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Arctotis             hybrida identified as code number 03-41, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Arctotis             hybrida identified as code number 00-49, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 17 days at             temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plants, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plants, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically white in color, actual             color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,             water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous single-type potted             Arctotis plant; compact and spreading plant habit;             moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching growth             habit with about eight lateral branches developing per             plant; dense and bushy appearance.         -   Plant height, to top of inflorescences.—About 14.3 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 38.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 7.9 cm. Diameter: About             5.2 mm. Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Outwardly. Texture: Tomentose. Color: Close to 138C;             proximally, tinged with close to 187A to 187C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Tomentose.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 191C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 192D; venation,             close to 191A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to 137B; towards the margins, close to 187A; venation, close             to 138D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to             192C; venation, close to 194B.         -   Petiole length.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 138C tinged with             close to 187A.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 138B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Single-type (daisy) inflorescence form with             lanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences borne on terminal and axillary peduncles             above the foliar plane; ray and disc florets arranged             acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face mostly             upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering season.—Plants flower during the spring and again             in the autumn in Japan; plants begin flowering about six to             eight weeks after planting.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about seven to             ten days on the plant; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit with             about 20 inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Globose. Color: Close to 185A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.7 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.7 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.3 cm. Receptacle             diameter: About 1.1 cm. Receptacle height: About 1.9 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 21 ray florets             arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 2.8 cm. Width:             About 7.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute and emarginate.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Orientation: Initially             upright, then perpendicular to the peduncle; apices slightly             reflexed. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; satiny.             Texture, lower surface: Pubescent; satiny. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 46A; towards the base,             close to N77A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 59C             tinged with close to 21D; towards the base, close to 151B.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N34A; towards the             apex, close to 34B; venation, close to N34A. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 59C tinged with close to 21D;             venation, close to 59B.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 108 massed at             center of the receptacle. Length: About 5.2 mm. Diameter, at             base: About 1.1 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex:             Five-pointed. Color, immature: Close to 202A. Color, mature:             Close to 153B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About 40 arranged in             about five imbricate whorls. Length, outer phyllaries: About             5.7 mm. Width, outer phyllaries: About 2.2 mm. Length, inner             phyllaries: About 10.7 mm. Width, inner phyllaries: About             5.2 mm. Shape, outer phyllaries: Lanceolate. Apex, outer             phyllaries: Acuminate. Shape, inner phyllaries: Elliptic.             Apex, inner phyllaries: Obtuse to rounded. Base, outer and             inner phyllaries: Fused. Margin, outer and inner phyllaries:             Entire. Texture, outer and inner phyllaries, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Texture, outer and inner phyllaries, lower             surface: Pubescent. Color, outer phyllaries, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144C. Color, inner phyllaries, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to N144C; towards the margins, close             to 187B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 13.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.9 mm.             Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Texture: Tomentose. Color: Close to 138C; distally, close to             N77C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per disc floret:             Five. Stamen length: About 4.6 mm. Anther size: About 2.2 mm             by 0.9 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to             13C. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium: Quantity per             ray and disc florets: One. Pistil length: About 4.2 mm.             Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 200A. Style             color: Close to N163D. Ovary color: Close to 155B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Arctotis. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Arctotis have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Arctotis     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Arctotis have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Arctotis plant named ‘Bonarc 0729’ as illustrated and described. 